Hypertension (high blood pressure) decisions — 2018

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for further development, including a VA examination to address his claims of service connection for hypertension and psychiatric disorder.

The Board has granted service connection for dermatographism but denied service connection for hypertension as secondary to PTSD. The Veteran's claim for hypertension is remanded due to the need for additional medical opinion and records.

The Board has remanded the case for further development, including obtaining VA treatment records and an addendum opinion from a VA examiner to address whether hypertension is related to service or diabetes mellitus.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not meet the criteria for service connection for any of his claimed conditions, as there is no clear and unmistakable evidence to rebut the presumption of soundness at entry into service or a pre-existing condition was aggravated by service. The diagnoses are found to be less likely related to service.

The Veteran's multiple disabilities have affected his daily living activities, requiring assistance to prepare meals and tend to his hygiene needs, manage his medication and financial affairs, and assist with nursing home care since December 5, 2017. Prior to this date, he was not in need of regular aid and attendance.

The Board has remanded the case due to inadequate opinions regarding service connection for hypertension, including a lack of consideration of herbicide exposure and aggravation by other conditions.

The Board found that the Veteran's hypertension did not have its onset during service and was not caused by or aggravated by his service-connected diabetes mellitus type II. The claim for service connection for hypertension is therefore denied.

The Board has granted service connection for dizziness and a 30 percent rating for migraine headaches prior to May 8, 2014. The Veteran's claims for other conditions are pending.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's claimed conditions are not related to service and have denied all of his claims.

The Board has found that the Veteran's bilateral shoulder, hip, knee, ankle, and right foot disabilities are related to his service. The Veteran's hypertension is also considered as being related to his service-connected conditions.

The Veteran's hypertension was not incurred in or aggravated by service, and there is no evidence of a disease manifesting within one year after separation from service. The Board finds that the preponderance of the evidence is against the claim for service connection.

The Veteran's appeal for SMC and SMP was denied as he does not meet the legal threshold required to receive these benefits due to lack of service-connected disabilities.

The Veteran's hypertension is being remanded for additional development to determine if it was incurred in service or due to a service-connected condition, including ischemic heart disease. The examiner will also assess whether the hypertension is aggravated by a service-connected disability.

The Veteran's hypertension is being remanded for further examination and etiological opinions to determine if it is related to service, herbicide exposure, or a service-connected disability.

The Veteran's hypertension has been managed with daily medication, but the blood pressure readings have never consistently met the criteria for a compensable rating under VA's rating schedule.

The Board found that the Veteran's hypertension and skin disorder are not shown to be causally or etiologically related to any disease, injury, or incident during service. The claims for service connection were denied as there is no evidence of a nexus between the current conditions and military service.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for headaches, blackouts, back condition, sleep disorder, high blood pressure, erectile dysfunction, and acquired psychiatric disability were denied. The right shoulder disability was granted a 20 percent rating.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for hypertension, a circulation disorder other than venous insufficiency with venous stasis dermatitis, and a skin disorder other than venous insufficiency and venous stasis dermatitis. The Board found that there was no evidence of direct service connection or secondary service connection.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including bilateral plantar fasciitis, have resulted in a combined rating of 100 percent as of April 20, 2015. Effective from July 15, 2016, the Veteran is entitled to TDIU due to his depressive disorder.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development to obtain medical records, conduct VA examinations, and determine the nature and etiology of his claimed conditions.